Long time since I've posted on these forums, lately I have been playing around a bit again on my froob account, considering most of the new content added keeps it's focus on TL6-7 and neglects low levels. Might it be a good plan to take a look at the lower level encounters that are around?
Cyborg Barracks is a great place to take a look at. The gear dropping in there is so far outdated that nobody bothers even going there besides for the hellspiner and their daily mission.
Taking a look at what "useful" weapons drop from this place:
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Library of Foul Language - nice taunt item for enforcers, low quality (100 ish) drops both inside and outside barracks.
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Severus' Fusion Sprayer
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Level from 71 and
Burst from 345 and
MG / SMG from 383
Ammo type: Energy Weapon Ammo
Damage: 18-99(173)
Dps: 5.5-30.3(52.9)
Speed:
Attack 1.00s
Recharge 3.00s
Location: LeftHand
Damage type: Cold AC
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Severus' Void Spinner
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Level from 71 and
Fling Shot from 289 and
MG / SMG from 383
Ammo type: Energy Weapon Ammo
Damage: 15-145(101)
Dps: 4.6-44.3(30.9)
Speed:
Attack 1.00s
Recharge 3.00s
Location: RightHand
Damage type: Fire AC
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Two SMG's for the left and right hand, both deal different type of dmg and the damage for these weapons... well for a lvl 71 lock. Why even bother getting them?
Lets continue:
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Bastion of Deimos
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wear:
On Self:
Strength from 213 and
Stamina from 232
Location: Back
Modifier:
On User:
Modify % Add. Nano Cost 5
Modify Chemical AC 429
Modify Cold AC 313
Modify Dodge-Rng -20
Modify Duck-Exp -20
Modify Energy AC 429
Modify Evade-ClsC -20
Modify Fire AC 372
Modify Melee/ma AC 429
Modify Disease AC 429
Modify Imp/Proj AC 429
Modify Radiation AC 372
Modify Run Speed -20
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Great! Some kind of tank armor, it's a shame an Exarch robe has better stats in every possible way!
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Deimos' Bio-Enhanced Feedback Rifle
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Level from 71 and
Fling Shot from 191 and
Aimed Shot from 191 and
Rifle from 377
Ammo type: Bullets
Damage: 31-129(168)
Dps: 8.2-34.1(44.4)
Speed:
Attack 2.50s
Recharge 2.50s
Damage type: Imp/Proj AC
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Now look at this baby! the most amazing rifle for any person who wants to deal absolutely no damage at lvl 71! Let's compare it with a common froob rifle:
Yatamutchy X-3 Counter-Sniper Rifle
Quality level: 79
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Aimed Shot from 187 and
Rifle from 375
Ammo type: Energy Weapon Ammo
Damage: 1-200(219)
Dps: 0.3-57.5(62.9)
Speed:
Attack 2.40s
Recharge 2.30s
so it has a bit more min damage then the froob rifle and has flingshot. Hoewever the X-3 is better in every stats way possible, has about the same req's to equippe and you likely have this one on around lvl 40 for your levelling needs. At level 71 I doubt someone would still use a rifle with these req's/stats. I took the X-3 as example considering this weapon isnt prof locked so it would be more fair to compare then to grab a caterwaul for example.
Next on the list!:
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Force-effect Vibro Blade
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Sneak Atck from 213 and
Fast Attack from 213 and
Melee Ener. from 421
Damage: 30-67(114)
Dps: 10.4-23.1(39.4)
Speed:
Attack 0.92s
Recharge 0.97s
Dual wield: Mult. Melee 376
Damage type: Melee/ma AC
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A nice weapon using melee energy for anyone who wants to be different. It has no level lock(Good!) and with the stat's you should be capable of equipping two of these around lvl 30-40 with some twinking. Considering I am not into the melee energy weapons. I dont know if there is any other viable alternatives to this weapon. I would rate this weapon...... crap. A frozen tear of uklesh deals 95-148(0) with much lower stats to equippe and with a bonus nuke on hit chance. Yes that weapon is not a melee energy weapon. But it is a multi wieldable melee weapon option. Just comparing them does show that the weapon shown above has debatable damage.
Next on the list:
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Hellfury Assault Cannon
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Level from 71 and
Burst from 324 and
Assault Rif from 407
Ammo type: Energy Weapon Ammo
Damage: 16-162(76)
Dps: 5.3-53.8(25.2)
Speed:
Attack 2.50s
Recharge 1.50s
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What can I say? This is the first actually usable item from this place. It is upgradeable into two better versions and packs a fair punch for it's requirements, on top of that it has an amazing proc:
Target Modify ReflectRadiationAC -15%
Target Modify Radiation AC -230
Which is very usefull even at high levels to bite your way through some reflect shields. The upgraded version even gains an extra proc on top of this:
Target Remove Protection nanos <= 45 NCU 1 times.
Which is why many high level soldiers use this to completely remove reflect shields from their target and then hotswap back to their primary weapon.
Same counts for the Hellspinner Shock Cannon which is an end game viable option with several upgrades on it, this weapon is even a decent cheap weapon for the poor mans soldier.
next on the list:
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Bonehammer
NODROP
Quality level: SPECIAL
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Level from 71 and
Dimach from 95 and
Brawling from 275 and
2h Blunt from 455
Damage: 139-487(349)
Dps: 13.7-48.1(34.5)
Speed:
Attack 2.61s
Recharge 6.50s
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Slow, 2hb, high damage. This weapon seems decent at first. Ignoring the level 71 requirement on it. But then, what was that thing called again? Oh yes ofcourse! Neleb's Nightmare Battlerod.
Comparing their dmg, and then best is to look at the DPS rating: Bonehammer(Dps: 13.7-48.1(34.5)) VS Neleb's Nightmare Battlerod(Dps: 14.9-65.7(6.0)). We can see the battlerod is outdamaging this weapon by far, has no level lock and even lower requirements! Did I forget to mention it drains your opponents nanopool on hit and returns this to you? So conclusion is once again. The Bonehammer is useless!
Last on the list:
Immortal Katana // Faded Immortal Katana // Broken Immortal Katana // Improved Immortal Katana
Considering the only one even worth mentioning for getting is the Faded Immortal Katana I will save the wall of text describing the other ones, the quality of this weapon is often around ql 90:
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Faded Immortal Katana
Quality level: 90
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
2h Edged from 429
Damage: 25-118(67)
Dps: 5.9-27.9(15.8)
Speed:
Attack 0.99s
Recharge 2.21s
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Good news! we can upgrade this weapon!:
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Immortal Katana
Quality level: 90
Requirements:
Wield:
On Self:
Brawling from 272 and
Fast Attack from 227 and
Melee Ener. from 272 and
2h Edged from 408
Damage: 30-220(100)
Dps: 5.3-39.1(17.8)
Speed:
Attack 2.40s
Recharge 2.20s
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So after upgrading it, we need melee energy and 2he to wield this glowing piece of scrap! It's a beautiful looking weapon and definitly nice as a novelty. For fighting however.... CRAP.
Why even add a weapon looking this cool if it isnt even worth using? Removing the melee energy or the 2he requirement from this weapon would be a fair start. Better would be giving this weapon some sort of damage comparable to a frost scythe/stygian desolator.
So after all the walls of text, the only useful thing to obtain from Cyborg Barracks are the Hellfury Assault Cannon and Hellspinner Shock Cannon.
It would be a good start to give this place the ToTW/Foremans office treatment and applying a level lock to this place. Then rework these old weapons which are rotting away as scrap and make them count again. Get low levels more active, get more viable weapons for both pvp and pvm. Give people new options and make low levels more interesting again.
TLDR; Cyborg barracks is hopelessly outdated and needs a revamp to even be considered a part of AO again.